Understanding Job Validation in Windows HPC Server 2008

Updated: June 17, 2009

Applies To: Windows HPC Server 2008

This topic describes how the HPC Job Scheduler Service validates jobs that are submitted to a Windows® HPC Server 2008 cluster.

The HPC Job Scheduler service validates jobs against the job template with which they are submitted. Job templates provide default values and value constraints for job properties, and also specify an access control list (ACL) that defines which users have permission to submit jobs using that template. For more information, see Job Templates.

Optionally, the cluster administrator can install a custom submission filter that provides additional job validation. Submission filters are programs (either a .exe or a .cmd file) that parse the job XML file to enforce additional checks and controls on submitted jobs, and can also modify job property values. If you installed a submission filter, the HPC Job Scheduler Service will call the filter every time a user submits a job to the cluster. For more information, see Understanding Activation and Submission Filters.

The job validation process

The following steps describe how the HPC Job Scheduler Service validates a job:

Job submitted: A user (the job owner) submits a job. The job description file (XML) includes information such as the job template to use, and any job property values that the user specifies.

Note

If the user does not specify a job template, the HPC Job Scheduler Service assigns the default job template to the job.

(If installed) Runs submission filter: The HPC Job Scheduler Service passes the job XML file to the submission filter program. The submission filter can accept, modify, or reject the job. If the filter program returns an exit code that is not a 0 (job accepted) or a 1 (job modified), the job submission fails.

Checks job template ACL: The HPC Job Scheduler Service confirms that the job owner has the Submit Job permission for the specified template. If the job owner does not have the necessary permission, the job submission fails.

Applies default values from the job template : The HPC Job Scheduler Service applies default value settings from the job template for any properties that the job owner did not specify.

Checks against job template value constraints: The HPC Job Scheduler Service checks each job property value against the value constraints that are defined in the job template. If any job property value is not within the valid value range, the job submission fails.

Adds job to queue: If the job passes the validation process, the HPC Job Scheduler Service adds the job to the queue.